Nov. 13, 2009

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball stunned the preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite Friday night with a 67-64 victory over Morehead State at the Vadalabene Center.

Ashley Bey led all scorers with 18 points, including a 10-for-12 effort from the free throw line. Raven Berry scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in her collegiate career debut. Melia Duncan scored 12 points with 10 sparking the Cougars in the first half.

The Cougars also picked up six points and four blocks from junior Whitney Champlin, playing her first game as a Cougar after transferring from Oregon State.

"I thought it was a total team effort. All of our freshmen - every single one of them made a big play," said SIUE Coach Amanda Levens after the Cougars collected a win in their season and home opener.

The Cougars held up down the stretch after holding as much as a 10-point lead with 11:25 to play. Levens said playing from behind last season taught the Cougars some lessons for this season.

"Being back in these situations, I think they learned a lot. They know what not to do down the stretch," said Levens.

Chynna Bozeman, the OVC's Preseason Player of the Year, led the Eagles with 13 points and eight rebounds. She was held to 5 of 18 shooting from the field and just 2 of 8 from three-point range.

Ashar Harris added 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Morehead State, 0-1.

Levens credited Bey, who returned to form defensively with five steals. Bey grabbed a Morehead State missed free throw out Harris' hands with 16 seconds to go.

"She came up with a big play at the end when she stripped the ball. It was huge. That completely sealed the game for us," Levens said.

SIUE returns to the Vadalabene Center Sunday for a noon contest against Milwaukee.

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